Water shut-off for oil wells



y 4, 1938. c. A. BROWN 2,118,067

WATER SHUT-OFF FOR OIL WELLS Filed Feb. 1, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. r 60' 1 WOW. B

ATTORNEY.

y 4, 1938. c. A. BROWN 2,118,067

I WATER SHUT'OFF FOR OIL WELLS Filed Feb. 1, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

. 6/4ar/ea'zrw BY- 1/ 1 man.

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 24, 1938 UNITED STATES Ll l8,067

PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to shut-offs, and more especially to means forcapping the upper end of the outer drive casing to tightly close thespace between the inner and outer casings.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to prevent the overflow ofwater from the space between the inner casing and the outer drive casingto prevent polution of surrounding land, and the killing of vegetationin the area polluted by this overflow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical, andsubstantial means which can be readily assembled and applied in thefield, without welding, or without the use of other spark producingequipment, which is dangerous to life and property when working on oilfields.

A further object is to design a shut-ofi which is economical tomanufacture, which can be easily handled, and which can be applied byunskilled labor and with few tools.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and minordetails of construction, without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a view of an oil well showing my shutoff inposition thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational detail view of theshut-off.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional side elevational view takenon the line l4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing an alternateconstruction for use when the inner casing is run.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 2 and showing a removable topplate.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of the removable top plate.

Fig. 10 is an edge view thereof taken on the line l0--l0 of Fig. 9.

Referring now more specifically to Figs. 2, 3, and 4 in which I haveshown one embodiment of my invention, the numeral 9 indicates the outerdrive casing, such as used when drilling an oil well, said casing beingformed of a plurality-of lengths of pipe suitably threaded at the endsand secured together by means of couplings ID as usual to form acontinuous conduit or casing:

This outer casing is usually sunk to a depth until it rests on solidrock and the inner casing H is then run, and this is also formed of aplu- 5 rality of pipe sections secured together by couplings l2 asusual, the upper ends of these inner and outer casings extending a shortdistance above the ground when the well is completed, or may be locatedin a pit if desired.

In most locations the oil bearing strata is relatively deep and when theouter drive casing is sunk and the inner casing is run, water flows fromthe space between the two casings, this water is salty, has a mineralcontent, and often 15 contains a slight mixture of crude petroleum, allof which is injurious to vegetables and water life, and as it fiows fromthe casing it overflows the surrounding territory, killing allvegetation and rendering the land unfit for productive agricul- 0 turalpurposes, the water finally finding its way to streams or rivers,poluting the water and killing fish, etc., and I have, therefore,provided a shut-off for capping this space between the inner and outercasings, without interfering with the natural flow or the pumping of oilfrom the inner casing.

The shut-off proper is preferably cylindrical in shape, being split onthe center line l3 to divide it into a pair of identically similar sec-0 tions 14 and I5 respectively, which when in as- U sembled relationclosely fit the outer casing, all as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4of the drawings, the upper end l6 being closed as shown, and is providedwith a centrally disposed opening I! to accommodate the coupling [2,which serves to secure the pipe sections of the inner casing together.

Diametrically opposed offset chambers l8 and I9 are provided in thesections [4 and I5, and Wings 20 are provided on each section as shown,said wings being spaced from the abutting edges of the respectivesections and are provided with openings 2| which accommodate bolts 22for rigidly securing the sections together and clamping them in positionon the outer drive casmg.

Casing clamps 23 are provided on the inner casing as shown, and aresecured together by means of the bolts 24, and the lower edge of thepipe coupling I2 resting on the upper edges of said clamps andsupporting the inner casing, the projecting ends of the clamps extendinginto and being accommodated in the chambers I 8 and I9 provided in thesections l4 and I5, thus the ing, thus providing a water-tightconnection and structure which effectively seals the upper end of theouter casing against overflow of water, etc. Paint or suitable sealingcompound can, of course, be used on the contacting surfaces if desiredand likewise gaskets may be used at certain points without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

In Figs. and 6 of the drawings I have shown an alternate constructionwhich I prefer to use when the well is being drilled, and when the innercasing is run. This consists of a pair of spaced apart packing discs 25and 26 respectively, I

said discs being formed in sections, each disc being hinged as at 21 tofacilitate the assembly, and assembling lugs 28 also are'provided oneach disc.

In practice one disc is placed in the coupling l0 and rests on the upperend of one of the pipe sections which form the outer drive casing, asuitable packing 3| is then placed on this disc, after which the disc 26is placed on the packing, segment blocks 32 are then placed on the disc26, the inner casing is then strained up and the clamps 23 placed inposition, and when the casing is released the clamps bear on the segmentblocks, pressing and wedging the packing mate rial 30 so that a tightleakproof joint is provided, the ends of the clamp bearing on the upperend of the outer casing. V I

If it is desired to 'utilize a limited volume of water for any desiredpurpose, a small pipe 33 is threaded in the lower packing disc .25 andex, tends upwardly through a suitable opening provided in the upperdisc, and is then led to any desired connection. V

In Figs. '7 to inclusive of the drawings I have shown the upper end ortop section of the device formed with a removable cover-plate 34 so asto accommodate inner casings of various sizes, for example, if a fourinch casing is used, a cover plate having a centrally disposed openingto fit this size casing is provided, the outer shell remaining the same,this will permit the outer shell or housing to be made up to suit acertain size outer casing, and it is then merely necessary to select acover plate having a centrally disposed opening of proper size to suitthe inner casing.

The plates 34 are formed as clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of thedrawings being split on the center line 35 into two individual sections,

the outer and inner rims being moulded to form inner and. outer grooves36 and 31 respectively and these grooves are adapted to accommodate asuitable packing material 38, the outer rim 3! receiving the edge 39 ofthe outer shell, the inner rim snugly fitting the outer circumference ofthe inner casing, thus forming a tight waterproof joint, these platescan be readily assembledwith the shell and permit quantity produc tionof the outer shells, and a plurality of different sizes of cover platescan be carried in stock.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that I haveperfecteda very simple, practical, and effective water shut-off for oilwells and the like. 1

What I claim is:

1. A shut-off for oil wells comprising inner and outer casings, a casingclampclamped on the inner casing with its ends mounted on the outercasing, a cylindrical shell member mounted on the outer casing of thewell and forming a. closure for the space between the inner and outercasings at theupper end thereof, laterallyprojecting chambers formedintegral with the cylindrical member for accommodating the ends of thecasing clamp, and means for rigidly clamp- 7 ing the cylindrical memberon said casing.

2. A shut-off for oil wells comprising a divided cylindrical memberadapted'to'be clamped to the upper endlof the outer casing and form aleakprooi closure between the inner and outer casing,

a clamp onthe inner casing opposed laterally' extending chambers formedintegral with'said member for accommodating" the. ends of the clamp, andmeans for rigidly. clamping said member in position. 7

3. An oil well structure comprising inner and outer casings, a clampmounted on the inner casing and engaging the outer casing for suspendingthe inner casing thereon, means mounted on the outer casing for forminga leakprooi closure between the inner and outer casings, and chambers insaid closure means for accommodating the ends of, the clamp.

4. An oil well shut-off structure comprising inner and outer casings, aclamp mounted on the inner casing and engaging the outer casing forsuspending the inner casing thereon, a cylindrical shell adapted to beclamped to the outer casing of the well, and a removable cover plateengageable with said shell and forming a leakproof closure between saidouter casing and the inner casing of the well.

5. An oil well shut-off structure comprising inner and outer casings, aclamp secured on the inner casing'and mounted on the outer casing,

a pair of similar shell sections adapted to be clamped to the outercasing, and a sectional removable cover plate engageable with said shellsections and with the inner casing of'the Well to form a leakproofclosure between the inner and outer casings.

6. An oil well shut-off structure comprising inner and outer casings, aclamp rigidly secured on the inner casing and supported on the outercasing, a cylindrical shell adapted to be clamped to the outer casing,and a detachable cover plate forming a closure between said shell andthe inner casing, said plate being formed with packing grooves in theinner and outer edges thereof to form leakproof joints thereat.

7. An oil well structure comprisinginner and outer casings, a clamprigidly mounted on the inner casing and engaging the outer casing for-suspending the inner casing thereon, and a cylindrical shell mounted onthe outer casing with its upper end engaging the inner casing to form aleak proof closure between the inner and outer casings.

CHARLESA. BROWN.

